Game apparatus



/ June 21 1927.

G, A. HEIMER GAME APPARATUS Fi,),ed Jan. 5, 1927.

Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES .v 1. 2.19 PATENT" OFFICE.

GRANVILLE A. HEIMER, OF NAZARETI-I, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed January 5, 1927f 7 Serial No. 159,127.

ings in spaced relationship with each other and with said obstacles. One of the said openings is provided with a counterbalanced tilting element having a surface normally in the plane of the said travel surface. Such a tilting device may actuate an effigy or figure which contributes to the spectacular action of the elements.

Tumblers are provided, comprising elongated hollow bodies having therein movable and preferably spherical bodies of heavy material, such as lead adapted to move freely from one end of the elongated body tothe other and furnishing by momentum an actuating force in causing the tumblers to move down the inclined travel surface. The tumblers are provided with semi-spherical ends to facilitate their movement adapting them to sway or incline sidewise from the perpendicular during their movement and thus to encounter one or another of the obstructions so as to be deflected to the right or left or to be projected into one of the openings as the case may be. The point is that the direction of deflection willdepend largely uponthe sidewise inclination of the tumbler when it encounters an obstruction.

The device is also provided with a return inclined travel surface to bringthe tumblers back to the player and thus facilitate the continuation of the game.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate merely by way of example means for effecting the invention;

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar View with a pivoted element in tilted position.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the tumbler on an enlarged scale.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, the top portion or exsite that of surface 7.

tension 6 comprises a flat longitudinal inclined travel surface 7 with the upwardly extending side margins 8. At the lower-end of the surface 7 is a transverse substantial perpendicular portion '9, having an aperture 10 in the middle; part thereof and ex" tending upwardly from the surface 7. The elements 6, 8 and 9am shown as supported by the legs 11. The portion of the surface 7 beneath and adjacent to the openinglO is recessed and provided with the member .12 fitting loosely therein and having its top surface normally in the plane of the sur face 7 I I This element 12 is pivoted as at 13, and

is provided with a weight or counterbalance,

as at 23, and with the substantiallyvertical end 1d for encountering the tumbler and causing the tilting of element 12. The member 15 comprises a travel surface '16 slightly inclined to the horizontal in direction oppo- This element is also supported on the legs 11 and is provided with substantially vertical side-margins 17. 7

Element 16 extends beyond the end of surface 7 and is provided with the end flange 17 in order to receive the tumblers falling from element12 and for directing said tumblers back to the end of the device from' which they started.

The surface 7 is provided with theobstructions, such as pins 18, and the openings such as 19 through which the tumblers may fall onto the surface 16. r

The tumbler 21 is an elongated hollow body made of light material such, for example, as celluloid, or light metal, or similar substance, cylindrical in cross-section and semi-spherical as to its ends. This hollow body is provided with a loosely fitting spherical body 22 of heavy material, such desired move In operation: If the tumbler is held in a Substantially perpendicular position, as at point 20 on surface 7, and then released, it will travel down the surface toward the lower end of same. It may encounter any of the obstructions'or pins 118-or it may. fall through either of the openings 19,0r itmay pass on to element 12 and through 'Lopening 10, falling to surface 16 and returning back along said surface to the front of the device. It will, of course, be understood that 'after thetilting of=element 12, to discharge the tumbler'onto surface 1"6,-the element 12 automatically returns to initial position with its top surface in the plane of the "travel surface 7 The several openings may have arbitrary numbers which may form "factors inthe scoring,

As the tumbler moves downwardly along the surface 7, ittends to sway from the "perpendicular either to the right -or the 'left, as it moves from one --end of surface 7 toward *the other, and thus, depending upon said inclination, may encounter one or the other of the obstacles and thus be deflected from its direct course of travel. This adds to the hazard of the game. 7

i "What ilclaim is-:-

1. Ina game apparatus, the combination "of means forming an'inclined travel surface, having openings and obstacles inspaoed're- 'lationship with each other, a substantially vertical wall at the lower-end of said travel -surface provided with an "opening extending above-said travel surface, a counter- "balanced element partly within said upward ly extending opening having its upper surface normally in the plane of said inclined travel surface, and a tumbler for travelling on the inclined travel surface comprising an elongated 'hollow body provided with a loosely housed spherical weight adapted "to "roll from one end tothe other of I the hollow"body.

2. In a game apparatus, thecombination of means forming an inclined travel surface, having openings and obstacles-in spaced relationship with each other, a substantially vertical wall at the lower end of said travel surface provided with an opening extending above said-travel surface, a counterbalanced element partly within said upwardly extending opening having its upper surface normally in the plane of said inclined travel :surface, means forming a reverse inclined travel surface beneath the first mentioned *inclined travel surface, and a tumbler for itravelling on said inclined travel surfaces comprising :an elongated hollow body pro vided with a looselyhousedspherica l weight .adaptedto roll from-one end to the other 0f the hollowbody.

3. In 'a igame'apparatus, the combination 'of means formingan inclined travel surface, having openings and obstacles in spaced rela- 'having its upper surface norma tionship with each other, a substantially vertical wall at the lower end ofsaid travel surface provided with an opening extendin {above said travel surface, a counterbalance element partly within said upwardly extending opening having its upper surface normally in the plane of said inclined travel .sunfaca'anda tumbler for travelling on the inclined travel surface comprising, an elongated hollow having semi-sphericail ends provided with a loosely housed spherical'weighta'dapted to roll fromone end to the other of the "hollow body.

4.7 In a game apparatus, "the combination 'ofmeansforming an inclinedtravel surface, having openings and obstacles" in spaced relationship with each other, a substantially vertical wallf'a't the lower end of saidtravel surface provided with an opening extending above said travel surface, a counterbal- :anced pivoted element partly within said upwardly exten'din'gopening having its up- :per surface normally in'the plane of said inclined *travel surface, and a tumbler for surface provided with an opening extendin 0' above saidtravel surface, a counterbalanced element partly within said upwardl extendng opening having its uppersur ace normally in the plane' of said inclined travel surface, and atumbler fortravelling on the inclined travel surface comprising 'an elongated hollow body providedwith a loosely housedspherical weight adapted to roll fr0mone endto the other of'the hollow body. 6. In agame'apparatus, the combination of "means forming an inclined travel surface,

having openings and obstacles in spaced relationship with each other, a substantially vertical wall at'the lower end of said travel surface provided with an opening extending above said'travel surface, an efligy+supporting counterbalanced element partly within said upwardly extendin opening fii in the plane of said inclined travel surface, and a tumbler for travelling on the inclined "travel surface comprising an elongated hollow body provided with a loosely "housed spherical weight adapted to roll from one end tothe other ofthe hollow'body. V

7. In a game apparatus, 'the combination :of means forming an inclinedtravel surface,

having openings and obstacles in spaced relationshlp with each other, a substantially vertical wall atthe lower end of said travel travelling on the inclined travel surface surface provided with an opening extending comprising a properly dimensioned elonabove said travel surface, an elfigy-support gated hollow body provided with a loosely ing counterbalanced element partly within housed spherical weight adapted to roll said upwardly extending opening having its from one end to the other of the hollow upper surface normally in the plane of said body.

inclined travel surface, and a tumbler for GRANVILLE A. HEIMER. 

